Circa 1918 Dining - Lavonia (GA)

5 /5 Linda DePrimo: From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. The staff was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable without being overbearing, which made the experience feel relaxed and enjoyable. The food was outstanding — beautifully presented, fresh, and full of flavor. Every dish we tried was clearly made with care and high-quality ingredients. Portions were generous, and everything came out at just the right temperature. You can really tell the kitchen takes pride in what they serve. We will absolutely be back and would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for great food, great service, and a wonderful overall experience.

5 /5 Jennifer R: It was our first experience at Circa 1918. Absolutely outstanding!! The house is darling. The Speakeasy is perfect (I could live there). The food did not disappoint. The owner and staff were so kind. We had our appetizers (pimento cheese and crab cakes) in the bar. They exceeded our expectations in every way. We ordered the filet and ribeye for dinner upstairs in the dining room. They were cooked to our exact specifications and were so yummy. We loved the choice of additional steak toppings. It was all a delight, and we look forward to returning asap! I hope the town and the people of Lavonia appreciate what a gem this is for the city.

3 /5 Michelle Ericson: My experience was mixed and ultimately felt like a 3-star visit. The trout was very thin and ended up being dry, and the steaks were fattier than expected. On a positive note, the seafood gumbo was excellent, and the homemade crackers were a standout. The mac and cheese was average, and the biscuits were decent but not particularly memorable. Overall, Would I go back? Sure — but will definitely get for the gumbo, brussel sprouts and the crackers.

5 /5 Kelly: Our 1st visit here was very pleasant. We had limited time in the area and wanted to visit the speakeasy for appetizers and a drink. Unfortunately we were there the night before Thanksgiving and that area was closed for the evening. The dining rooms are lovely and historic and the property beautiful. We really enjoyed the appetizers and are sure to stop for dinner on a future visit.

2 /5 Darian Horn: I was really looking forward to trying 1918 especially since I learned they served breakfast/brunch on Sundays. I had passed this place often not even aware that they were serving food. The ambience was amazing. Beautifully designed dining rooms with high ceilings and amazing hardwood floors throughout. Perfect to reflect the home’s original decor. I ordered the biscuits and gravy breakfast with a side of home fries anticipating a country style breakfast offering that easily matched the dated venue. As you’ll see in the photo I was sorely disappointed. Before I continue let me explain my intentions. Restaurants who allow their customers to critique their establishments should understand that a bad experience can be corrected if it’s brought to the attention of a change agent. To have the expectation that only good reviews are going to be reflected is an unrealistic view point and limits growth. So, not only will I offer my criticism, I give a solution. Let’s start with the biscuits and gravy. Any time I see gravy on a menu, I see HOT, SMOKY, SAUCY, liquid pouring off the menu item it’s advertised with. As you can see, this looks like a paste that was spooned on my biscuits, instead of poured, with hunks of a sausage patty that was cut up instead of using a raw patty as the base to create a seasoned, milky gravy. I could only eat one half of the four pieces. Now for the country home potatoes. It’s so easy to make a great home fry potatoes. You should NEVER deep fat fry, as these were. If you’re going to use a russet potato simply pre bake the potatoes, then cut up, place on a grill with onions, try-color peppers, and seasoning. EASY! Overall the food experience was VERY disappointing especially knowing the cooks are all schooled chefs. Again, there’s always room for growth and for everything I didn’t appreciate, I’m sure others did! Finally, I included my recipe so you could actually see what was charged. The average cost for a cup off coffee in the United States is $2.70, not sure what makes Circa 1918 coffee worth $4.00 but I guess people are paying it. Hey if you can get it, cuddos to you guys!!